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Reading had been the lifeline that got her through dark days And tonight she wanted to bear witness to Matt sharing his love of books with his son

The sight would be all the nant after the emotional story Matt had told her at dinner His pain was al she could touch, and she’d envisioned hie to the rescue only to have little Noah rescue himself She wasn’t sure Matt saw it that way, but eventually, with her help, he would Noah was an ahiht all the way to the bed Ari settled into a wicker chair by the , curling her feet beneath her as she watched father and son

Matt’s big body dwarfed the twin bed as he leaned against the headboard with Noah nestled into hies "Here we are The fearsoe" He deepened his voice "Gregor the giant roared while the villagers ran His footsteps were a great thurocer’s cart"

Noah pointed at the page "He doesn’t look very lanced down at Noah tucked beneath his ariant Maybe he stubbed his toe on the way down the mountain and that’s why he roars"

"Look" Noah tapped the book "He’s on one foot, hopping because his toe hurts"

They studied the illustration, then Matt began to or the Giant actually wants to ask for help? But ould a giant need a tiny villager’s help?"

Noah gazed up at hiy, Ari could see that he was also a pensive child--cerebral, as Matt had put it earlier According to Daniel, Matt had been the same "I know!" Noah finally said "He needs help because his little boy is sick"

"Do giants have little boys?"

"Of course They’re just like you and "

The new story unfolded before Ari’s eyes, about Gregor the Giant and his brave but sick little boy Noah She was captivated by the love they shared and how their h every silly character voice he made up, every tieous story element they added He was the essence of fatherhood, the epito daaze as he spoke another line in the Giant’s voice "Thank you for helpingyou desire" His words burrowed deep inside as his eyes held her captive "But now, young master, it is time for you to sleep"

"No," Noah crowed

"Yes," Matt said in the deep giant voice and laid aside the book they hadn’t actually read He scooched Noah down in the bed "Good night"